Toyota supra convertible

It’s still not clear what will be under the hood of the upcoming Toyota Supra. Enthusiasts are crossing their fingers for an inline-six as special as the one that powered the fourth-gen model, which is highly possible considering Toyota’s technical partnership with BMW. But a new report further solidifies rumors that a hybrid powertrain is in the works. In an interview with Auto Express¸Toyota Europe CEO Johan van Zyl said a hybrid-powered Toyota sports car is a strong possibility. “I would imagine that in the future that will definitely happen,” he said. “We already have some sporting models with hybrid powertrains on the Lexus side. But on the Toyota side, I think we will find that if we can have a World Endurance Championship racing car with hybrid technology, it can happen on a road car.” He doesn’t mention the Supra specifically, and his vague timeline also doesn’t help. “I do not have any doubt whatsoever that in the … [Read more...] about We Hear: Toyota Supra to Offer Le Mans-Inspired Hybrid Powertrain

Motor Trend staffers and a spy photographer caught yet another group of high-performance vehicles testing at the Nurburgring. Lexus was reportedly testing a trio of IS Fs circling the ‘Ring, including an IS F convertible, a race-prepped IS F with NACA ducts, and another IS F chasing a right-hand-drive Toyota Supra. The big news here is the black Lexus IS F convertible, and not because it’s a drop-top. While we wouldn’t mind testing a hardtop convertible version of the IS F, given the age of the current-generation IS lineup, this could be a test mule for the next-generation IS. Though Lexus has offered an IS 350C F Sport edition model, we wouldn’t expect an IS C F model this late in the car’s lifecycle. A Motor Trend staffer who was at the ‘ring tells us the blue Lexus IS F (shown below) “had something nasty under the hood,” and it “sounded very mean.” From the photos, this IS F looks to be race-prepped; it’s got NACA … [Read more...] about Spied! Three Lexus IS Fs, Including Convertible, Join Toyota Supra on the ‘Ring

We’ve seen Toyota Supra mules running around for a while, and not much has changed on them — until now. Our spy photographers caught the Supra testing in Germany with the usual camouflage and nothing new until you see the headlights, which look full LED, vastly different from past test mules that were equipped with more traditional-looking headlights. The headlights appear to have six individual LED projectors per housing, with two rows of three lenses in each. No surprise as many automakers have gone the LED route for their appealing looks and efficiency. Oddly enough, there is some resemblance to Acura’s Jewel Eye LED headlights but little resemblance to any existing Toyota/Lexus or BMW LED headlights. Could these be the actual production headlights or at least an available option? It’s possible, but hard to say since they’re equipped on a camouflaged pre-production mule. Once the cover comes off, we will likely have our answer. In the meantime, … [Read more...] about Spied! Toyota Supra Sports Full-LED Headlights

Toyota’s upcoming sports car – built in collaboration with BMW – hasn’t been given an official name yet, but we’ve called it the Supra for so long that it’s practically become synonymous with it. Now, Toyota engineers are apparently pushing to make that name stick, according to CarAdvice. Global chief engineer Tetsuya Tada told the Australian publication that he wants to see the Supra name go onto the car. “I love the Supra and I love the name Supra,” he said. “It’s historically important to Toyota. We’re pushing for the name Supra for the new car we are [jointly] developing with BMW.” Tada added that the collaboration with Munich was going well, with extended testing and development being conducted around the world. “I’d say the partnership is going well, very smooth,” he said. “We’re testing all over the world too, not just Fuji or Nurburgring, but all [around] the world.” To … [Read more...] about Toyota Supra name top pick for sports car – report

Toyota’s sports car aficionados will be pleased to know that the next-generation Toyota Supra will finally be unveiled just two years from now, in 2018. According to Autocar, the new Japanese sports car will come shortly after the BMW Z5, both these cars being the spawn of a joint venture between Munich and the world’s largest carmaker. The two companies have been working together on both cars since 2012; however, they have now gone their own separate ways in terms of development. We’ve previously brought you spyshots of a convertible Z5 being tested on the road, and the British publication understands that the Supra is said to be in a similar stage of development. Acting as a replacement to the long-departed MkIV Supra, which last left the factory in 2002, the new Toyota will be inspired by the stunning FT-1 concept shown at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, and positioned above the 86 in the company’s lineup. This positioning is reflected in the use of the Supra … [Read more...] about New Toyota Supra coming in 2018, will be hybrid, AWD

The all-new Toyota Supra is now in its final phase of development and will form the basis of a newly created Toyota performance sub-brand. Lightly veiled prototypes of the sleekly styled coupé are now seen frequently on the roads around the vast R&D operation of Toyota’s project partner, BMW, in Munich, Germany. The new Supra is being developed in a joint engineering venture with the upcoming BMW Z5. It will resurrect one of Toyota’s most highly treasured performance models following a 14-year hiatus for the Supra, which was first introduced to the Japanese car maker’s line-up in 1978. This upcoming fifth-generation Supra was first previewed by a pair of Toyota FT-1 concepts designed at the company’s Calty Design Research studio in California and unveiled at the 2014 Detroit motor show. The new Supra is slated to reach UK showrooms during the second half of 2018. It will be offered with the choice of either a traditional petrol engine or a … [Read more...] about New Toyota Supra and BMW Z5 gear up for 2018 assault

The new Toyota Supra, the twin to the upcoming BMW Z4, will launch in 2018 as the brand's new halo model. The latest sighting of the model showed its production-spec lights and bumpers for the first time. Earlier sightings showed the two-seater sports coupé running with an automatic gearbox and BMW electronics - which comes as no surprise given the technical links between the Z4 and Supra. BMW Concept Z4 previews upcoming Z4 roadster Photographed testing at the Nürburgring, the Supra featured BMW switchgear, including a dashboard-mounted infotainment screen and accompanying rotary dial controller on the central tunnel, as well as BMW heating control buttons and a BMW automatic gearlever. The Supra is expected to share its automatic gearbox with the Z4, albeit with different ratios, while also incorporating the same hybrid four-wheel-drive set-up, comprised of a BMW petrol engine mated to electric motors with energy stored in … [Read more...] about Toyota Supra to share BMW electronics with next Z4

New information suggests the long-awaited Toyota Supra will arrive in 2018, shortly after the BMW Z5 with which it will share many parts. Click here to view pictures of a development Supra. BMW and Toyota have been jointly working on the models since 2012, but have now begun to move development off in their own directions. BMW has been spotted testing its convertible Z5 on the road and Toyota is said to be at a similar stage of development. While the Z5 will effectively be a replacement for its Z4, the Supra will come as the long-awaited successor to Toyota's discontinued coupé, which was last produced in 2002. The new Supra will take inspiration from the FT-1 concept of Detroit 2014 (shown below), and will sit above the GT86 in Toyota's line-up. That positioning tallies with the return of one of Toyota’s classic sports car names. While the Celica badge has traditionally been used for models of the GT86’s size, the Supra name would give the firm … [Read more...] about New Toyota Supra on course for 2018 launch

As development continues on Toyota and BMW’s collaborative Toyota Supra and BMW Z5 sports car project, our colleagues at Motor Trend are reporting some more details about these two exciting models that are set to debut within the next three years. The first piece of news concerns the Toyota Supra’s hybrid system. We already knew that this gas-electric powertrain would use a gasoline engine sourced from BMW, and this report says that the engine in question will be a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. This engine will mate with a BMW-supplied dual-clutch transmission to put the power through Toyota’s advanced hybrid system that’s closely related to the high-performance powertrain in the company’s TS030 race car. The hybrid system was also shown on the Toyota Yaris Hybrid R concept at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. This means that the four-cylinder gasoline engine will power the rear wheels along with help from an electric motor, with two … [Read more...] about Report: Toyota Supra Hybrid Uses BMW Power, Droptop Version Possible

We’ve seen Toyota Supra mules running around for a while, and not much has changed on them — until now. Our spy photographers caught the Supra testing in Germany with the usual camouflage and nothing new until you see the headlights, which look full LED, vastly different from past test mules that were equipped with more traditional-looking headlights. The headlights appear to have six individual LED projectors per housing, with two rows of three lenses in each. No surprise as many automakers have gone the LED route for their appealing looks and efficiency. Oddly enough, there is some resemblance to Acura’s Jewel Eye LED headlights but little resemblance to any existing Toyota/Lexus or BMW LED headlights. Could these be the actual production headlights or at least an available option? It’s possible, but hard to say since they’re equipped on a camouflaged pre-production mule. Once the cover comes off, we will likely have our answer. In the meantime, … [Read more...] about Toyota Supra Spied Sporting Full-LED Headlights